This study had two aims. First, the study intended to identify the influences of product benefits and product identification on consumers' purchase intention, Second, it wanted to assess the moderating effects of consumers' aesthetic seeking tendency on their decision-making process. Based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) paradigm and the product personality-brand identification-purchase intention model, this study proposed a research model, the benefits-product identification-purchase intention model. To test the model, a survey was conducted of female college students; a total of 298 questionnaires were analyzed. The stimulus used was a popular model of Nike running footwear: the Luna Eclipse+2. Factor analysis and structural equation analysis were conducted to analyze the research model. The results indicate : (1) The aesthetic benefit influenced product identification positively. The aesthetic benefit, functional benefit and product identification were all positively related to purchase intention. (2) The aesthetic seeking tendency mediated the influences of product benefits on consumers' purchase intention in the decision-making process. For consumers in the ‘high’ level group of aesthetic seeking tendency, aesthetic benefit and social benefit affected purchase intention and for consumers in the ‘low’ level group of aesthetic seeking tendency, the functional benefit only affected purchase intention. Based on this study, we find evidence that product benefits and aesthetic seeking tendency play important roles in consumers' decision-making process in product purchase.

Purpose - Present study investigates character identification and emotional response to character that may affect consumers' intention to purchase the character-attached products. And this study explores whether symbolic relevance and object relevance affect the character identification, and whether character attractiveness and character salience affect the emotional response to characters. Research design, data, and methodology - SNS characters, animated characters, game characters, and traditional characters were used as experimental characters. And stationery as experimental product was used. 250 college students participated in the empirical study, and structural equation model was used to verify hypotheses. Results - First, the character identification and emotional response to characters affected the intention to purchase the products positively, and the emotional response to characters also positively affected character identification; second, symbolic relevance had no positive impact upon character identification, while object relevance had positive influence on character identification; and third, character attractiveness and salience had a positive effect on the emotional response. Conclusions - Present study contributes to the progress of character theories. Marketers should find ways to increase consumers’ object relevance to characters and the level of characters' attractiveness and salience in order to promote the intent to purchase the products.